The Diversity of Oregon’s Industries

October 14, 2024

Oregon’s total nonfarm employment is less racially and ethnically diverse than average across the United States. Among the U.S. private-sector workforce in 2023, 24% reported a race other than white alone, compared with Oregon’s 15%. Moreover, the ethnic diversity of the U.S. is more robust than Oregon – Hispanic or Latino workers hold 18% of private employment in the U.S. compared with 14% of all jobs in Oregon. Oregon’s lack of diversity in the workforce at large is almost entirely due to the overwhelmingly white population in Oregon. In the 2020 Decennial Census, Oregon ranked 30th among the states in the U.S. Census Bureau’s Diversity Index. Even with limited diversity in Oregon’s total nonfarm employment, some industries are more diverse than others.

Race

Industries with the greatest racial diversity are defined here as those with the greatest average employment of people of color, meaning people from a race group other than white alone. In 2023, Oregon’s most racially diverse industries included manufacturing (18% share of people of color); management of companies and enterprises (16.6%); transportation and warehousing (15.4%); and accommodation and food services (18%). These are aggregate measures, but the differing industry shares of employment by each race is where the real differences lie.

For example, Asian workers hold 6% of Oregon’s total nonfarm employment. However, their highest shares of industry employment are in manufacturing (10%); management of companies and enterprises (9%); and accommodation and food services (7%).

Workers who identify as two or more race groups comprise 4% of Oregon’s total nonfarm employment. Their highest shares of industry employment are in accommodation and food services (5%); arts, entertainment, and recreation (4%); and retail trade (4%).

Aggregate Black or African American employment in Oregon is 3%, while their shares of industry employment are highest in administrative and support and waste services (5%); transportation and warehousing (5%); and health care and social assistance (4%).

American Indian or Alaska Native workers account for 2% of Oregon’s employment. Their highest shares of industry employment are in public administration (3%); accommodation and food services (2%); and agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting (2%).

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander employment in Oregon accounts for 1% of total employment. This cohort’s share of industry employment is highest in transportation and warehousing (1%); manufacturing (1%); and administrative and support and waste services (1%).

The least racially diverse industries are defined here as those that have the greatest shares of white alone employment. These industries include mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (94% white alone); utilities (91%); and construction (91%).

Ethnicity

Looking at the ethnic diversity of Oregon’s industries, we see a similar trend in many industries for their lack of diversity, though some are significantly more diverse than others. For ethnicity, individuals are classified by the U.S. Census Bureau as either “Hispanic or Latino” or “Not Hispanic or Latino.” People of Hispanic or Latino origin may be of any race.

The industries with the greatest share of ethnic diversity include agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (33% Hispanic or Latino employment); accommodation and food services (18%); administrative and support and waste services (18%); manufacturing (17%); and construction (15%). The industries with smallest share of ethnic diversity include professional, scientific, and technical services (8%); information (8%); and utilities (8%).

One important caveat is that these employment metrics capture only a small portion of agricultural employment because the majority of the industry’s employment is not covered by unemployment insurance. As a result, the share of diverse employment in agriculture is likely understated in these graphs.

The Beauty of the World Lies in the Diversity of its People

Oregon doesn’t have the most diverse workforce in the nation – far from it – but the diversity of the workforce has increased as decades have passed. In 2001, people of color held only 9% of total nonfarm employment. In 2023, that share increased five percentage points to 14%. With respect to ethnic diversity in employment, Oregon’s share of Hispanic or Latino employment was only 7% in 2001. As of 2023, that share doubled to 14% of total nonfarm employment. Diversity, in all its forms, is beneficial for all involved. It enhances creativity, encourages an array of perspectives, and leads to better decision-making and problem solving. People of different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences coming together can be quite a powerful thing in building a more balanced labor force.